Don’t Let a Broken or Clogged Garbage Disposal Ruin Your Holidays

The holidays are meant to be enjoyed. No one should have to deal with a broken or clogged garbage disposal during this season. And yet, this is precisely the scenario that many homeowners could be facing because of the many holiday gatherings that occur, threatening to overwhelm not just homeowners but their appliances and systems as well. 

If homeowners want to ensure that their garbage disposal doesn’t experience issues after that five-course dinner or holiday gathering is finished and the dishes are piled high in the sink, then read on for some easy tips to keep the garbage disposal humming along smoothly through it all. 

Don’t Get Rid of These Food Items in the Garbage Disposal

When it comes to maintaining the condition of garbage disposals, the first thing to do is to engage in preventative measures, and with garbage disposals, that usually means keeping specific foods away from the drain so that they don’t inadvertently cause the garbage disposal to clog or break. 

These food types include anything excessively oily or greasy since oil and grease can become solid in the disposal and cause it to get blocked or stall. Other kinds of food that could potentially wreak havoc in the disposal include starchy foods that absorb water and expand, such as rice and pasta, stringy and fibrous food like vegetable and fruit peels, which can get caught in the blades, and hard food debris like bones and seeds that can potentially break the blades. 

Even if food gets past the garbage disposal, that doesn’t mean that homeowners are in the clear. These foods, grease, and oil can also wreak havoc on the plumbing by forming clogs in the piping, so avoid using the garbage disposal and drain as a garbage can to prevent problems. 

Run the Disposal With Running Water and Other Tips

Keeping a clean garbage disposal is another way to maintain its condition. This can be done by running the disposal with the faucet on and cold water flowing through the blades. Doing this helps dislodge any food waste that may be stuck inside. Another way to keep the blades clean and functioning properly is to run the disposal with ice cubes inside. The blades should be able to grind the ice cubes, and in the process, the ice can help dislodge any food that has gotten stuck.

Homeowners should also be wary of putting too many food scraps or too much food inside the disposal at the same time. This can overwhelm the system and cause the blades to stop functioning, creating a clog that would be difficult to clear or lead to the garbage disposal breaking. 

When in Doubt, Call the Professionals

When the disposal stops working, most people should be able to restart their units by pressing the garbage disposal reset button. However, if homeowners find themselves needing to reset the disposal more often, then there’s likely more to the problem that requires a professional to fix.

Because garbage disposals are complex home appliances, they require professional services for issues. Services such as garbage disposal installation, repair, and replacement require a plumber’s touch. So, when experiencing issues with the garbage disposal system despite a homeowner’s best efforts to prevent problems, it’s important to call a plumber.

About Falcon Plumbing

Falcon Plumbing has been serving Miami, FL, and the surrounding areas since 1986. They provide upfront pricing, personal attention, and fast same-day or next-day service. Call them today for kitchen plumbing and garbage disposal services in Miami, FL. 

• 
  +